Tinkergarden STEM Discovery Centre

Watching the Santa GPS Tracker.... he's in France and is headed our way!!!!! Kids get to bed!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

All I want for Christmas is more patience, a babysitter, and a massage therapist.

There's so much wisdom in 's latest post. This is so relevant now during the holidays and in general. Many people have good intentions speaking up about how we raise our own children. They give us advice, and they make indirect comments and suggestions. But at the end of the day, every child is different, as is every family, and YOU are your child's parent. You make the decisions. I believe in listening and learning, and we will keep learning every single day of our lives. ❗BUT❗ setting these boundaries is key to maintaining our own sanity and can also model strength and confidence for your own child. It tells them that you have their back and will not be swayed by others to do something that isn't right.

Our holiday treat to ourselves because parenting is hard! 😅

Surveying our family members for foods they like. Tough luck carrots 🥕 😕

Snack time... I learned this morning that my toddler likes to eat tomato seeds. Not so much the tomato itself, but the seeds. 😄 🤣 😂

Tinkergarden mini reunion was a real bucket-filler! 🤩 It blew me away how much our kids have grown since we last saw them in March! Seeing toddlers who are now big 3 and 4 yr olds, babies who were once crawling now running and jumping around, and new additions to our families! It really has been that long...

We are resilient. We have to find that power within us to keep pushing forward, progressing in new ways that we never imagined before. 2020 is coming to an end but 2021 is coming up fast.

💪🏼Remind yourself that you have been resilient and YOU CAN DO IT AGAIN. 💯💯💯

So grateful for friends & open spaces bringing a sense of normalcy for us and the children to be able to see each other for a long overdue playdate. Thanks to those who came out! We had such a blast!!!

Easiest DIY light table for my toddler and preschooler, using Christmas lights and a large container!

Can we keep ourselves not only sane but thriving, healthier and happier? Is it possible to be living our *best life* right now?

We are so busy running up the down-escalator, keeping things going despite setbacks and unimaginable challenges. We are thinking about COVID, how the pandemic will pan out over the next few months, strategizing our children's education despite schools not reopening in the new year (my trini friends), and let's not even mention how *extra* so many of us are being with Christmas this year for our kiddos and ourselves.

Are you finding ways to be present and thrive right now? Or are you still in survival mode? Do you have any help?

I look at this photo of my rambunctious toddler climbing sneakily into the cupboard and can't help but smile. These kids drive me crazy a dozen times per day, but they are also my fuel that keeps me putting one foot in front of the other. They make me laugh, and make my heart grow when I catch them in a stolen moment playing happily by themselves, and in their silliness during bath time. I am grateful to be their mom. I am grateful to be alive when so many people have passed on before their time. I am grateful to have my children by my side. I am grateful for my husband who is truly my partner in this journey we call life.

This is it, we only get one chance at this life. We are always learning, always growing, making mistakes and learning to be better.

Tangrams were our introduction to using shapes to practice visual orientation, to learn vocabulary (e.g., trapezoids), and much more!